Cargo container

ABSTRACT

A container includes a container assembly being shiftable between a unitized collapsed, transport disposition and a unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition, the container assembly having a plurality of independent assembly members, including a bottom member, four side members and a top member, a plurality of manually operable latches operably coupled to selected container assembly members, the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the erect, cargo bearing disposition and at least a portion of the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition, assembly of the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition and in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition being effected without the use of tools or loose components. A method of forming a container is further included.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,275, filed May 8, 2007, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the area of shipping and storing cargo. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-weight composite collapsible shipping container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need to standardize a shipping container for use within the DOD Logistics System. The container should be able to be assembled without any tools and after being assembled, the top and two sides of the container should be readily removable for providing access to the volume defined within the container. Upon disassembly, the container should collapse into a relatively small size so that it may be nested with other disassembled containers and returned to the cargo depot for reuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. The cargo container meets the requirements of the desired footprint, height, stacking-height, and internal volume. Further, the cargo container is able to transport 800 pounds gross weight and is able to be loaded with a standard sized pallet having a load of cargo disposed thereon.

Additionally, assembly time for the cargo container of the present invention is less than two minutes. The assembly involves a minimal number of parts, and, significantly, no tools are needed for erection or disassembly, and, additionally, no loose parts result from or are needed for erection or disassembly of the container. Accordingly, when the cargo container is disassembled, there are no loose components that must be accounted for and that would be easily lost in the return of the collapsed cargo container to the depot. Erection and disassembly of the cargo container involves only simple manual operations without the assistance of any tools.

Additionally, the cargo container of the present invention provides for two sides access to the interior space defined within the cargo container as well as ready removal of the top panel to also gain access to the interior space defined within the erect cargo container. The cargo container collapses to less than one third of the volume of the assembled cargo container and may be nested with other collapsed containers for return to a cargo depot. The two side panels and the two end panels are secured within a volume formed by the top panel and the base when the container is in the disassembled disposition ready for transport to a cargo depot.

Further, the cargo container of the present invention is a top lift device that is compatible with certain slings used by DOD components. The cargo container is palatable to facilitate movement and may be moved either with a mechanized forklift or a hand truck.

Additional features of the cargo containers include that there are a limited number of latches required in the assembly of the cargo container. In an embodiment, here are a total of eight latches in the assembled disposition of the cargo container and the eight latches are on two planes. Four of the latches are on the top panel and two are on each of the two side panels. A total of four latches are used during the collapsed disposition of the cargo container to secure the top panel to the base. These four latches are four of the same latches used during the assembled disposition. All of the latches are large handled and easily used.

The present invention is a container, the container including a container assembly being shiftable between a unitized collapsed, transport disposition and a unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition, the container assembly having a plurality of independent assembly members, including a bottom member, four side members and a top member, a plurality of manually operable latches operably coupled to selected container assembly members, the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the erect, cargo bearing disposition and at least a portion of the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition, assembly of the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition and in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition being effected without the use of tools or loose components. The present invention is further a method of forming a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cargo container of the present invention in the assembled erect disposition with the leftmost corner broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the cargo container;

FIG. 3 is a top planform view of a corner of the base of the cargo container;

FIG. 4 is a bottom planform view of the underside of the base;

FIG. 5 is a planform view of the detail G of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exterior face of an end panel of the cargo container;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the interior face of an end panel of the cargo container;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the lift rod;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the lift rod;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lift rod with a portion of rod member removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective exterior view of a side panel of the cargo container;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the top panel of the cargo container;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a top latch; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cargo container in the assembled erect disposition adjacent to three cargo containers in the disassembled disposition.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the cargo container of the present invention in the assembled erect disposition;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the cargo container of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a lower corner of the erect cargo container with the channel of the base and the side member of the end panel removed;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a lower corner of the erect cargo container of FIG. 17 with the channel of the base in place;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a lower corner of the erect cargo container with the channel of the base, the side member of the end panel and the L member removed;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a side member of an end panel.

FIG. 21 is a is a top planform view of the side member of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an upper corner of an end panel;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the upper corner of the end panel of FIG. 22 with the side member removed;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the upper corner of the juncture of the end panel, a side panel, and a top panel with the channel member of the upper latch removed;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the latch pin member;

FIG. 26 is an elevational view of the latch pin member of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the catch plate;

FIG. 28 is a is a top planform view of the top panel with two diagonally opposed corners broken away;

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view of the tie down and top panel latch with the top panel edge member broken away;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the tie down and top panel latch of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of a corner member;

FIG. 32 is an end elevational view of an edge member of the top panel; and

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the upper corner of the juncture of the end panel, a side panel, and a top panel with the side member of the end panel removed;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The cargo container of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in the figures. As depicted in FIG. 1, the cargo container 10 has a minimum number of components in order to accomplish the task of the cargo container 10, including a base 12, two end panels 14, two side panels 16, and a top panel 18. No tools or additional loose components are needed to assemble or disassemble the cargo container 10. The above-noted components have been constructed using the lightest possible weight material consistent with an 800 pound lift capacity of the cargo container 10 and with providing a substantially weather-tight construction in the assembled disposition. The construction uses a minimum of aluminum for strength combined with ABS and honeycomb components for lightness.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 12 includes a base plate 20. The base plate 20 is preferably an aluminum sheet that is about 0.12 inch thick. The base plate 20 has an upper surface 40 and an opposed lower surface 42 It is upon the upper surface 40 of the base plate 20 that the cargo rests when disposed in the container 10.

The base plate 20 is supported at each of four corners by a corner channel 22. See FIGS. 2, 3, and 9. The corner channel 22 is generally U-shaped having two parallel opposed side members 24 connected by a back member 26. The corner channel 22 has a lower opening 28 and an opposed upper opening 30. The lower margin 29 of the lower opening 28, as depicted in FIG. 5 is beveled to assist in receiving the upper latch 111 (described below) when nesting a first disassembled cargo container 10 on top of a second disassembled cargo container 10. See FIG. 14 for a depiction of nested cargo containers 10.

A structural cross member 32 extends between the two side members 24 proximate the upper margin of the corner channel 22. The cross member 32 is generally constructed of rectangular bar stock and is coupled to the side members 24 by welding or some other similar high strength coupling. As will be detailed below, it is the cross member 32 in each of the respective corner channels 22 that largely transfers the weight any loaded cargo in the cargo container 10 to the top lift when a top lift is employed.

In addition to the corner channels 22, the base plate 20 is supported in its elevated disposition by a plurality of orthogonally disposed uprights supports 36 a, b. Supports 36 a are formed of aluminum plates and supports 36 b are formed of aluminum box section. The supports 36 a, b are welded at the lower margin thereof to peripheral stringers 34 that extend between the corner channels 22. A portion of a stringer 34 forms the bottom of the corner channel 22 and the lower opening 28 carries through the respective stringer 34. The base 12 is palletized and, as such, generous spaces are defined between the upright supports 36 and the interior space defined within the base 12 is free of obstructions in order to accommodate the insertion of the tines of a powered forklift or a hand truck therein. The edge margins of the base plate 20 are supported by marginal supports 37 a, b. Supports 37 a are L shaped and supports 37 b are U section. Supports 37 a, b are supported by the corner channels 22 and the supports 36 a, b. An additional feature depicted in FIG. 1, is the provision for an identification panel at aperture 38 that may contain a tracking device, such as a bar code.

As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, the base plate 20 has an opposed lower surface 42. The base plate 20 is stiffened by crisscross joists 48 that are welded at the upper margin thereof to the lower surface 42. A respective end of each of the respective joists 48 is welded in the corners of the base 12. The opposed end of each of the respective joists 48 is welded to a respective side of the base 12. Each of the joists 48 is preferably an aluminum strap that is approximately an inch in width and a ¼ inch thick.

In the depiction of FIGS. 2 and 4, the two transversely disposed stringers 35 lie in the plane of the base 12 that comprises the lower margin of the base 12 and that comes in contact with the underlying surface supporting the base 12, as depicted in FIG. 2. The stringers 35 are preferably formed of an aluminum strap that is approximately an inch in width and a ¼ inch thick.

The second component of the cargo container 10 is the end panel 14. There are two end panels 14 required to form the assembled cargo container 10 of FIG. 1. The end panels 14 are in an opposed disposition when the cargo container 10 is in the erect disposition. Generally, the end panels 14 are identical and therefore are interchangeable from end to end and interchangeable from cargo container 10 to cargo container 10. Referring to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, and end panel 14 includes a four-sided frame 50 that may be made of aluminum extrusions or a plastic, such as ABS. The frame 50 supports a panel member 62. The frame 50 includes an upper member 52 that is joined at either end to a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel side members 56. A lower member 54 is disposed generally parallel with the upper member 52 and is also operably coupled at either end to a respective side member 56. Each of the side members 56 includes a channel 58 defined therein. The panel member 62 may be formed of two spaced apart ABS panels chemical-bonded to an intermediate Kraft paper honeycomb panel.

A lift rod 60 (see FIGS. 8-10) is integrally disposed in each of the respective channels 58. The lift rod 60 is preferably a solid rod and is disposed integral with the end panel 14. As such, the rod 60 remains a part of the end panel 14.

The lift rod 60 is shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 7 and in more detail in FIGS. 8-10. The lift rod 60 includes a centrally disposed rod member 64 that extends substantially the full height dimension of the panel 14. The rod member 64 is preferably operably coupled as by welding or the like to upper attach member 66. Upper attach member 66 is preferably generally a rectangular plate 68 having a bore 70 defined therein. As is detailed below, the bore 70 mates with the stud 132 of the top latch 111 when the top panel 18 is mated to the end panel 14. The opposite end of the rod member 64 is operably coupled, again preferably by welding, to a lower attach member 72. The lower attach member 72 includes a plate 76. The plate 76 has a beveled lower margin 78 that assists in engaging the underside of the cross member 32 of the corner channels 22 when the end panel 14 and the integral lift rod 60 are mated to the base 12.

A boss 80 is operably coupled to the plate 76 proximate the lower margin of the plate 76. The boss 80 is disposed generally orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rod 60. The boss 80 has an outward directed beveled edge 82 to assist in smoothly mating the boss 80 to the underside of the cross member 32 when the end panel 14 is erected relative to the base 12.

FIG. 11 depicts the third component of the cargo container 10, the side panel 16. As with the end panel 14, there are two side panels 16 in the assembled erect cargo container 10. Generally, the side panels 16 are identical and therefore interchangeable from side to side and interchangeable from cargo container 10 to cargo container 10. The side panels 16 are preferably constructed of two ABS chemical bonded panels to a Kraft paper honeycomb panel member in a manner similar to the end panels 14. In an embodiment, each of the side panels 16 weighs approximately 11.5 pounds. Generally, the side panel 16 has two spaced apart side members 92 (described below) including respective channels defined therein that lock around a respective end panel 14 creating a substantially weather tight seal. Side panel 16 includes two integral large-handled latches for removably securing each of the side panels 16 to two respective end panels 14.

In more detail, a side panel 16 includes a four-sided frame 84. The frame 84 may be preferably formed of ABS plastic or extruded aluminum, as desired. The frame 84 includes an upper member 86. The upper member 86 includes two integral latches 88 disposed proximate the opposed ends of the upper member 86. A generally parallel and spaced apart lower member 90 is disposed at the lower margin of side panel 16.

Two spaced apart and generally parallel side members 92 of the frame 84 extend between respective ends of the upper member 86 and the lower member 90. Each of the side members 92 includes an inward directed channel 94. The channel 94 is designed to extend around and enclose a portion of a respective side member 56 of an end panel 14 when the cargo container 10 is assembled. A panel member 95 is disposed interior to the frame 84. Bonding of the respective side members 92 with the upper member 86 as indicated at 180 may be by chemical bonding.

The final major component of the cargo container 10 is the top panel 18, depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13. Generally, the interior panel member 107 of the top panel 18 is preferably formed of two ABS panels chemically bonded to an intermediate honeycomb panel and in a preferred embodiment weighs approximately 45.4 pounds. The top cover 18 includes integral large handled latches 111 that embody The U.S. Navy format lift eye.

The top panel 18 includes a frame 96. The frame 96 of the top panel 18 is preferably formed of ABS or extruded aluminum, as desired. Where ABS is employed, the corners of the frame 96 are formed of aluminum to add strength at these critical junctures. The frame 96 of the top panel 18 is rather deep, such that the top panel 18 defines a rather significant interior volume in cooperation with an underlying surface. The interior volume of the top panel 18 is large enough to enclose the two end panels 14 and two side panels 16 when the cargo container 10 is in the disassembled, as depicted in the rightmost depictions of FIG. 14. Each of the members comprising the frame 96 is of similar construction. The frame 96 is generally rectangular in shape having a pair of side members 98 coupled to a pair of end members 100. Referring to FIG. 33, each of the members 98, 100 includes a lower front portion 102 and a transversely disposed upper margin portion 104. The front portion 102 and rear portion 104 are connected by a generally S-shaped curved transition member 106. A rear L shaped member 105 forms an interior volume 103 in cooperation with the S-shaped curved transition member 106. The frame 96 encloses and supports an interior panel member 107. The outer margin of the interior panel member 107 is bonded to the frame 96. The interior panel member 106 is preferably constructed of two panels of ABS chemical bonded to respective sides of a Kraft paper honeycomb panel member in a manner similar to the end panels 14 and side panels 16.

An aluminum channel member 108 is disposed at each of the four corners of frame 96. The channel members 108 are preferably identical in construction. Each of the channel members 108 has a pair of inward directed studs 110 that are disposed proximate the curved transition 106 when the channel member 108 is mated to a side member 98. The studs 110 pass through bores defined in the channel member 108 and engage the pivot member 120 of the latch 111, noted below.

Referring to FIG. 13, a top latch 111 is disposed in the inner aperture 112 of each of the respective channel members 108. Each of the top latches 111 is comprised of three members; a centrally disposed eye member 116, a release member 118 disposed on a first side of the eye member 116, and a pivot member 120 disposed on an opposite side of the eye member 116. The eye member 116 is preferably formed of a material possessing significant strength, such as aluminum or steel. The eye member 116 includes a body 122 that defines an upward projecting eye 124. One or more central apertures 116 may be defined in the center portion of the body 122. A depending rod engaging member 128 extends below the lower margin of the channel member 108 in which the top latch 111 is disposed. The rod engaging member 128 includes a depending bar 130 and a transversely disposed, outwardly directed stud 132. The stud 132 engages the bore 70 of the rod 60 when in the disposition of FIG. 13.

The release member 118 includes a body 134 that is generally shaped like an inverted “T”. The body 134 is preferably made of aluminum or a plastic material. The upper margin of the body 134 comprises a release handle 136. The release handle 136 is generally flush with the top margin of the channel 108. The word “push” is preferably embossed on the upper margin of the release handle 136. An aperture 138 may be defined in the body 134 and a slot 140 may be defined in the lower margin of the cross member of the inverted T.

The pivot member 120 is opposed to the release member 118. The pivot member 120 includes a body 142 having a pivot 144 disposed at the lower margin thereof.

FIG. 13 depicts the top latch 111 in the engaged disposition in which the top latch 111 would be engaged with the lift rod 60. The top latch 111 is biased in this disposition with the eye member 116 being generally parallel with the sides of the channel member 108. Pressing down on the release handle 136 causes the eye member 116 to rotate slightly about the pivot 144, thereby tilting the eye member 116 with respect to the channel member 108 as indicated by arrow 146. Such motion disengages the stud 132 from the bore 70 of the rod 60, thereby permitting the top panel 18 to be lifted free of the remainder of the cargo container 10. Releasing the release handle 136 causes the eye member 116 to be biased back to its erect, engaged disposition as depicted in FIG. 13.

In assembly, the two end panels 14 are positioned adjacent the base 12 with the top of the end panel 14 tilted outward with respect to the base 12. Tilting the respective end panels 14 outward acts to tilt the lift rod 60. Rotating the end panel 14 to an erect disposition causes the boss 80 of the lift rod 60 to rotate beneath the cross member 32 of the base plate 20. In such disposition, lifting upward on the lift rod 60 acts to carry the base 12 with the respective end panel 14. With the two end panels 14 in position on the base 12, the side panels 16 may be set in place.

The two side panels 16 are positioned adjacent the base 12 with the top of the side panel 16 tilted outward with respect to the base 12. The side panels 16 are then rotated to an erect disposition between the two end panels 14, as depicted in FIGS. 1. Such rotation causes the channel 94 of each of the side members 92 of the side panels 16 to slide over the edge margin of a respective side member 56 of an end panel 14. The latches 88 then engage the respective side member 56 of the end panel 14 coupling to the panels 14, 16. It is significant to note that with the cargo container 10 in the assembled disposition, each of the side panels 16 may be readily removed from the cargo container 10 simply by activating the latches 88 and rotating the side panels 16 away from the cargo container 10. This facilitates access to the cargo within the cargo container 10 without disassembly of the cargo container 10.

Placement of the top panel 18 is the final step in the assembly of the cargo container 10. The top panel 18 is lowered over the assembled end panels 14 and side panels 16. The channel member 108 aligns with the side members 56 of the end panels 14. When the top panel 18 is in place, the respective release handles 136 of the release member 118 of the top latch 111 may be depressed downward rotating the eye member 116 inward as indicated by the arrow 146. Further descent of the top panel 18 and release of the release member 118 causes the eye member 116 to rotate opposite to the direction of the arrow 146, thereby engaging the stud 132 with the bore 70 defined in the upper attached member 66 of the lift rod 60. In such disposition, an upward directed force applied to the four eye members 116 will result in elevation of the assembled cargo container 10.

The disassembly of the cargo container 10 is the reverse of the afore-mentioned assembly method. To assembly the cargo container 10 in the disposition for transport back to a cargo depot, as indicated by the three stacked collapsed cargo container 10 in FIG. 14, the two end panels 14 and two side panels 16 are placed on top of the base 12. The top panel 18 is then placed on top of the panels 14 and 16, completely enclosing them within the interior space defined within the top panel 18. The release member 118 of the top latches 111 is depressed; rotating the eye member 116 is indicated by arrow 146 of FIG. 13. Pressing down on the top panel 18 then results in the stud 132 sliding beneath the cross member 32 of the base plate 20 and thereby securing the top panel 18 and panels 14, 16 to the base 12.

The collapsed cargo containers 10 may be nested for transport as indicated in FIG. 14. When a collapsed cargo container 10 is lowered onto an underlying collapsed cargo container 10, the upward directed eye 124 of the eye members 116 are received within a respective lower opening 28 of the base plate 20. Such reception acts to reduce the height of the stacked collapsed cargo containers 10 and additionally provides lateral support for a stack of collapsed cargo containers 10.

A further embodiment of the cargo container 10 is depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 and the subsequent figures. Like components bear like numerical designations in the present embodiment as are borne in the embodiment described above.

As depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16, the cargo container 10 includes base 12, end panels 14, side panels 16 and top panel 18.

The base 12 of this embodiment includes several features not present in the base 12 above. The first is the corner channel 22 is generally four sided with an internal channel 200 that is rectangular in cross section. An opening 202 is defined at the top of the corner channel 22 by the inside margin of the sides of the corner channel 22. A bottom member 204 is provided at the bottom of the corner channel 22. The bottom member 204 is formed of a portion of the strap 42. An aperture being a rectangular latch receiver 28 is defined in the bottom member 204. The lower margin 29 of the receiver 28 is beveled to act as a lead-in to aid in receiving the latch 111 when the base 12 and the top panel 18 of superposed containers 10 are mated in the disassembled disposition and are nested. An outward directed side of the corner channel 22 has a rod receiving slot 210 defined therein. A large opening 212 is provided beneath the slot 210. The opening 212 facilitates removal of sand and debris that may have collected in the corner channel 22.

As depicted in FIG. 17, plates 214 are welded in place as supports for the L shaped stock 216 that forms the upper peripheral margin of the base 12 supporting the end panels 14. The edge margin 217 of the base plate 20 is preferably bonded or welded to the L shaped stock 216. At least one bore 219 is defined in the L shaped stock 216. The inward directed upper margin 221 of the L shaped stock 216 is preferably welded or bonded to the edge margin 217 of the base plate 20

Plates 218 are welded in place as supports for the U shaped stock 220 that forms the upper peripheral margin 217b of the base 12 supporting the side panels 16. Base plate 20 overlies the upward directed open side of the U shaped stock 220 and is preferably bonded or welded thereto. At least one bore 222 is defined in the portion of the base plate 20 overlies the U shaped stock 220.

An L shaped member 224 is welded in the internal channel 200 of the corner channel 22. A rod receiving slot 226 is defined in the L shaped member 224. The slot 226 is in registry with the rod receiving slot 210 defined in the side of the corner channel 22.

Shiftable tie downs 240 have been added to the corner channels 22, as depicted in FIG. 16 and 19. Each of the tie downs 240 is comprised of a D ring 242 that is rotatably coupled to a tab 244. The tab 244 is rotatably affixed in the internal channel 200 of the respective corner channel 22 by a bolt 246. Prior to mating the end panel 14 to the base 12, the tie down 240 may be rotated out of the channel 200 onto the surface 40 of the base plate 20. In such disposition, the tie down 240 is available to tie down cargo being transported by the container 10. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 19, the tie down 240 may be left in the channel 200, as desired, when the end panel 14 is mated to the based 12.

Turning to the end panel 14, the side member 56 is depicted in FIG. 20. FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the side member 56. A lengthwise rod retaining groove 228 is defined in the side member 56. The groove 228 extends greater than a hemisphere. Accordingly, the rod member 64 of the lift rod 60 may be pressed into the groove 228 by expanding the arms 230 a bit. The arms 230 contract around the rod member 64 as the rod member 64 is advanced further into the groove 229, thereby physically capturing the lift rod 60.

The side member 56 includes an elongate aperture 232. The aperture 232 acts to receive a latch pin 234, as depicted in FIG. 15, for securing the end panel 14 and the side panel 16. This is described in greater detail below.

The shape of the bottom member 54 is noted in FIG. 17. The bottom member 54 includes an upward directed channel 234. The lower margin of the panel member 62 resides in the channel 234 and is bonded thereto. As noted above, the panel member 62 is formed of two spaced apart ABS panels 236 and an intermediate honeycomb 238.

As depicted in FIGS. 22 and 23, a rod retainer 248 is employed to better capture the upper portion of the lift rod 60. The retainer 248 is preferably formed of a plastic material and has two opposed jagged sides 250 and an upward directed U shaped groove 251. The U shaped groove 251 ensures that there is adequate access for the stud 132 of the latch 111 to be received within the bore 70 of the rod 60. The retainer 248 is preferably pressed into the grooves 252 defined in the side member 56 after the lift rod 60 has been mated to the rod receiving slot 226. The jagged sides 250 assist in retaining the retainer 248 in place.

As depicted in FIG. 16, a downward directed stud 250 is centrally disposed on the lower margin of the end panel 14. The stud 250 is designed to be received within the bore 219 when the end panel 14 is erected with respect to the base 12 to provide added structural integrity to the mating of the end panel 14 and the base 12.

Features of the side panel 16 of the embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16 are depicted in FIGS. 24-27. A pair of latches 88 are provided on the side panel 16, as depicted in FIG. 16. The latches 88 are oppositely acting but of similar construction. The latches 88 in the embodiment of FIG. 24 are biased in the locked disposition, as depicted. The leftmost latch 88 is depicted in FIG. 24. The latch 88 has three components, handle member 254, spring 270 and latch pin member 274.

The handle member 254 is an integral component that is translatable in the groove 256 and an opposed substantially identical upper groove (not shown) and has a latch handle 258 with the word “pull” embossed thereon. Aperture 260 is defined between the handle 258 and the first bar 262. A second aperture 264 is defined between the bar 262 and a second bar 266. The handle member 254 is biased in the locked disposition depicted by the spring 270. The spring 270 is coupled at a first end to a boss 268 formed on the reverse side of the bar 266. The spring 270 is coupled at a second end to a spring stop 272 that is affixed to the upper member 86. The spring 270 is held in compression in the depicted disposition.

The latch pin member 274 is captured behind the handle member 254. Latch pin member 274 has an elongate shank 276. A bore 278 is defined in the shank 276 proximate a distal end of the shank 276. A stud 280 is disposed in the bore 278. A catch 282 is fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the shank 276. The length of the catch 282 is greater than the diameter of the shank 276 and, accordingly, the catch 282 projects beyond the shank 276 in a transverse manner. A lock bore 284 may be defined in the catch 282.

In the locked disposition, the latch pin member 274 projects through the aperture 232 and, when rotated as depicted in FIG. 24, secures the end panel 14 to the side panel 16. When rotated as depicted, the longitudinal axis of the stud 280 is vertically disposed and the stud 280 is captured behind bar 262 and stud 280 is thereby prevented from being rotated. Pulling the latch handle member 254 slightly to the right against the bias of the spring 270 exposes the stud 280 in the aperture 260. The latch pin member 274 may then be rotated 90 degrees. In such disposition, the stud 280 bears on the rightmost margin of the handle 258 and further rightward motion of the handle 258 acts to with draw the catch 282 through the aperture 232, thereby unlocking the end panel 14 from the side panel 16.

A catch plate 286 (FIG. 27) is centrally disposed and affixed to the upper member 86 of the frame 84. Bores 288 are defined in the first leg 290 of the catch plate 286. The first leg 290 is mounted flush with the inner margin of the upper member 86 and is affixed thereto by means of rivets 294 extending through the bores 288 and the upper member 86. The second leg 292 is inward directed with respect to the side panel 16.

As depicted in FIG. 16, a plurality downward directed studs 252 are disposed on the lower margin of the side panel 16. The studs 252 are designed to be received within the respective bores 222 when the side panel 16 is erected with respect to the base 12 to provide added structural integrity to the mating of the end panel 14 and the base 12.

The interface of the end panel 14 and the side panel 16 is depicted at 308 in FIG. 24. The interlocking of side panels 56 and 92 at interface 308 provides a substantially weather tight coupling. It should be apparent that the order of erection must be the end panel 14 first mated to the base 12 and the side panel 16 second in order to make the interface 308. Disassembly is in the opposite order.

The final component of the container 10 of FIGS. 15 and 16 is the top panel 18. In an embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 28 and 29, the top panel 18 is fitted with two tie downs 300 and two top panel latches 310. The two tie downs 300 and two top panel latches 310 are generally centrally disposed on the two opposed sides of the top panel 18 that engage the side panels 16 (as distinct from the sides thereof that engage the end panels 14). The tie down 300 includes a retainer 302 that is mechanically coupled to the top panel 18 by two rivets 304. A D ring 306 is free to rotate beneath the retainer 302.

Each of the top panel latches 310 is comprised of the previously described latch pin member 274, being generally centrally disposed on the two opposed sides of the top panel that engage the side panels 16. In the locked disposition as depicted in FIGS. 28-30, the latch pin member 274 is disposed in a bore 316 and depends therefrom. The stud 280 is captured beneath the second leg 292 of the catch plate 286, thereby securing the top panel 18 to the respective side panels 16. A padlock 314 or the like may be passed through the D ring 306 and the lock bore 284 to prevent unauthorized removal to the top panel 18. Rotation of the latch pin member 274 ninety degrees from the depicted disposition frees the stud 280 from being captured beneath the second leg 292 and permits lifting the top panel 18 free of the container 10.

There are four edge members 312 of the top panel 18, as depicted in FIG. 28. The edge members 312 are formed of an ABS plastic material. The edge members 312 are joined at the four corners by corner members 318, as depicted in FIGS. 28 and 30. Each of the corner members 318 is preferably formed of aluminum and is comprised of a center section 320 and two orthogonally disposed stiffeners 322, 324. The stiffeners 322, 324 are disposed in the interior space 326 defined in the edge member 312 and bonded and/or riveted thereto to provide corner stiffness to the top panel 18. The stiffener 322 extends into the edge member 312 that overlies the respective end panels 14 and the stiffener 324 extends into the edge member 312 that overlies the respective side panels 14. It should be noted that there is preferably no aluminum or other non-ABS member that extends from corner to adjacent corner of the top panel 18 along the respective edge members 312. This minimizes the weight of the top panel 18 and avoids difficulties arising from the significant difference in the coefficient of expansion of aluminum and the plastic material forming the respective edge members 312 of top panel 18.

Erection and disassembly of the cargo container 10 of this embodiment is substantially similar to the erection and disassembly of the cargo container 10 noted above.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives. 

1. A container, comprising: a container assembly being shiftable between a unitized collapsed, transport disposition and a unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition; the container assembly having a plurality of independent assembly members, including a bottom member, four side members and a top member; a plurality of manually operable latches operably coupled to selected container assembly members, the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the erect, cargo bearing disposition and at least a portion of the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition, assembly of the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition and in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition being effected without the use of tools or loose components.
 2. The container of claim 1 further including load bearing members extending from the top member to the bottom member when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition, each of the load bearing members being operably couplable to an upward directed eye.
 3. The container of claim 2, a first pair of load bearing members being operably coupled to a first side member and a second pair of load bearing members being operably coupled to a second side member.
 4. The container of claim 2, each of the respective load bearing members having a first latch and a second spaced apart latch.
 5. The container of claim 4, each of the respective load bearing members first latches being adapted for coupling to the top member.
 6. The container of claim 4, each of the respective load bearing members second latches being adapted for coupling to the bottom member.
 7. The container of claim 1, the top member being readily removable for providing access to an interior space defined within the container assembly when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 8. The container of claim 1, at least two of the side members being readily removable for providing access to an interior space defined within the container assembly when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 9. The container of claim 1, the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition being less than one third the volume of the container assembly in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 10. A container, comprising: container assembly means for being shiftable between a unitized collapsed, transport disposition and a unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition; the container assembly means having a plurality of independent assembly member means for forming the container assembly means, including a bottom member, four side members and a top member; a plurality of manually operable latch means operably coupled to selected container assembly member means, the plurality of latch means being effective for maintaining the container assembly means in the erect, cargo bearing disposition and at least a portion of the plurality of latch means being effective for maintaining the container assembly means in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition, assembly of the container assembly means in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition and in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition being effected without the use of tools or loose components.
 11. The container of claim 10 further including load bearing member means for providing structural rigidity, the load bearing means extending from the top member to the bottom member when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition, each of the load bearing member means being operably couplable to an upward directed eye.
 12. The container of claim 11, a first pair of load bearing member means being operably coupled to a first side member and a second pair of load bearing member means being operably coupled to a second side member.
 13. The container of claim 11, each of the respective load bearing member means having a first latch and a second spaced apart latch.
 14. The container of claim 13, each of the respective load bearing member means first latches being adapted for coupling to the top member.
 15. The container of claim 13, each of the respective load bearing member means second latches being adapted for coupling to the bottom member.
 16. The container of claim 10, the top member being readily removable for providing access to an interior space defined within the container assembly means when the container assembly means is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 17. The container of claim 10, at least two of the side members being readily removable for providing access to an interior space defined within the container assembly means when the container assembly means is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 18. The container of claim 10, the container assembly means disposed in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition being less than one third the volume of the container assembly means disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition.
 19. A method of forming a container, comprising: shifting a container assembly between a unitized collapsed, transport disposition and a unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition; including in the container assembly a plurality of independent assembly members, including a bottom member, four side members and a top member; operably coupling a plurality of manually operable latches to selected container assembly members; maintaining the container assembly in the erect, cargo bearing disposition and at least a portion of the plurality of latches being effective for maintaining the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition by means of the latches; and assembling of the container assembly in the unitized collapsed, transport disposition and in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition without the use of tools or loose components.
 20. The method of claim 19 further including extending load bearing members from the top member to the bottom member when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition, and operably coupling each of the load bearing members to a respective upward directed eye.
 21. The method of claim 20, including operably coupling a first pair of load bearing members to a first side member and operably coupling a second pair of load bearing members to a second side member.
 22. The method of claim 20, including operably coupling a first latch and a second spaced apart latch to each of the respective load bearing members.
 23. The method of claim 22, including adapting each of the respective load bearing members first latches for coupling to the top member.
 24. The method of claim 22, including adapting each of the respective load bearing members second latches for coupling to the bottom member.
 25. The method of claim 19, adapting the top member for being readily removable for providing access to an interior space defined within the container assembly when the container assembly is disposed in the unitized erect, cargo bearing disposition and adapting at least two of the side members for being readily removable for providing access to the interior space defined within the container assembly. 